Muti out of hospital, expected to make 'full recovery'

October 12, 2010|By John von Rhein | Classical music critic

Riccardo Muti has been released from a Milan hospital and is expected to make a full recovery from the illness that forced him to withdraw from the remaining two weeks of his October programs as Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director, an orchestra spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Following a full battery of medical tests at San Raffaele Hospital, it was determined that the Italian conductor, 69, is suffering from extreme exhaustion as a result of prolonged physical stress. The exhaustion manifested itself in abdominal pain and other physical symptoms.

"His physicians believe that he was able to work through his symptoms in his first two weeks, given all of the heightened excitement, but that as time wore on, it became more difficult to do so," said the spokeswoman.

She said Muti's doctors have prescribed one month of complete rest, which he has begun at his home in Italy. He is reported to be feeling "not perfect, but relieved" to know his condition was not as serious as his symptoms seemed to indicate before his withdrawal from a CSO concert on Oct. 2.

In a statement, Muti said: "I will do as my doctors say and rest completely so that I may return to Chicago in February ready to collaborate with the magnificent musicians of the CSO and continue the community programs we started in September. I very much appreciate the outpouring of well wishes and support from the members of the CSO family and residents of my new musical home, Chicago, and I look forward to my return."

Muti is next scheduled to arrive in Chicago in late January to take up his winter residency Feb. 3-19.

Deborah Rutter, president of the CSO Association, said in a statement, "We are so relieved that with complete rest he will be able to return to Chicago to move forward with his performances in February, April and May as originally scheduled."